Function of Escherichia coli ribosomal protein S1 in translation of natural and synthetic messenger RNA

The effect of Escherichia coli ribosomal protein S1 on translation has been studied in S1-depleted systems programmed with poly(U), poly(A) and MS2 RNA ‡ ‡ MS2 RNA, RNA extracted from baoteriophage MS2; IgG, immunoglobulin G. . The translation of the phage RNA depends strictly on the presence of S1. Optimum poly(U)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis and poly(A)-programmed polylysine synthesis also require S1. Excess S1 relative to ribosomes and messenger RNA results in inhibition of translation of MS2 RNA and poly(U), but not of poly (A). In the case of phage RNA translation, this inhibition can be counteracted by increasing the amount of messenger RNA. Three other 30 S ribosomal proteins (S3, S14 and S21) are also shown to inhibit MS2 RNA translation. The effects of S1 on poly(U) translation were studied in detail and shown to be very complex. The concentration of Mg 2+ in the assay mixtures and the ratio of S1 relative to ribosomes and poly(U) are crucial factors determining the response of this translational system towards the addition of S1. The results of this study are discussed in relation to recent developments concerning the function of this protein.